Air Force pararescue jumpers, or PJs, set themselves some difficult tasks as part of Northern Edge 2006, according to Marine Corps journalist Lance Cpl, Ethan Hoaldridge. Alaska’s climate and terrain provided an excellent training opportunity for PJs visiting from the 31st Rescue Squadron of Kadena AB, Japan. Some of the Alaskan combat search and rescue crews got to play “victims” in scenarios such as one that had PJs jumping from a C-130 into the frigid Kachemak Bay to rescue three victims.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.

